Tag: Fort MacMurray

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Alberta Ft Mac Health

Fort MacMurray Is Under A Wildfire Advisory

Fort MacMurray, wildfire advisory

Fort MacMurray is under a wildfire advisory due to extremely dry conditions. The dry spring this year has led to the advisory coming earlier than usual. The Forest and Emergency Response division of the Alberta government has made public an advisory after the fire hazard rating for the Fort McMurray Wildfire Management Area has increased. The increased rating is due to little rain and high winds in the area. Environment and Sustainable Resource Development wildfire information officer Robyn Haugen explained “We were supposed to get some rain and we haven’t got it yet, so there’s a lot of dead, dry grass around.” As long as the current conditions continue the advisory may remain in effect because even a small act of carelessness could result in a wildfire that threatens property, wildlife, and even local residents.

As long as the Fort MacMurray wildfire advisory is in effect it will not be possible to get new fire permits for the area as the government has stopped allowing these permits to be issued until the advisory is lifted. In addition any current fire permits in the local area are suspended until further notice when the wildfire advisory is lifted. Safe campfires are still allowed but caution is being urged. According to Haugen a total of 7 fires have occurred so far in the season and every one was caused by humans. “Just pay attention, practice safe burning, so if they do have a campfire … make sure it’s out. We encourage people to soak it, stir it, and soak it again.”

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Economic Ft Mac

Fort MacMurray Oilsands Dance Party Draws a Crowd

Oilsands, Fort MacMurray

The Fort MacMurray Oilsands Dance Party drew a crowd on Saturday night at the banquet hall of the Sawridge Inn & Conference Centre, and everyone who attended had a great time. 30 different residents, politicians, and business leaders in the local community each spent a single minute explaining why the oilsands are special to them. Canada Action was the organization behind the We Love the Oilsands dinner and dance event. The organization was started last year by Cody Battershill, and it has been designated as a non profit. The last year has been rough for many Fort MacMurray residents and businesses as the oil industry has suffered a downturn. According to Battershill “As Canadians, we should be so frustrated and fired up we’re not getting full value. We’re not here to promote companies, we’re here to promote jobs for Canadians.”

The Fort MacMurray event drew in a crowd of more than 800 people, and the Oilands Dance Party was intended to benefit the local community and show why Fort MacMurray is so important to so many people. The crowd applauded at several points during the speeches by the community members and politicians. Some were humorous, some were blunt, but they all made an impression on the crowd and drew attention to Fort MacMurray. Battershill believes that the local community is important and stated “Coast to coast, you will see millions of Canadians have jobs in the natural resource sector. Although we’re going through a lower oil price environment, we’re still selling our oil for even less because we don’t have access to global markets.”

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Alberta Economic Ft Mac

Proposed Suncor Mining Project Too Close to Fort MacMurray?

Suncor, Fort MacMurray

Is a new proposed Suncor mining project located too close to Fort MacMurray? The project would be located only 6 kilometres from the city, and some think that that is just too close for comfort. So far Suncor has met with aboriginal groups and municipal authorities in order to gain some feedback on the proposal for the Voyageur South Mine project. This project is intended to replace the North Steepbank Extension mine when the full depletion of bitumen occurs in the near future. The new project by Suncor is projected to produce approximately 250,000 barrels of bitumen each day and will have a 28 year lifespan. The exact size and specific area for the project has not been mapped out yet but the website for Suncor has a statement about the nearest permanent residence from the planned project area is six kilomtres from the project site.

According to the Suncor website statement about the proposed Fort MacMurray project “The proposed project will include soil stockpiling followed by mining operations, as well as ore preparation, primary extraction facilities, tailings management, and related pipeline, power line and road infrastructure. Progressive reclamation will occur over time.” There will be submission of an integrated application to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency and the Alberta Energy Regulator at some point next year. According to Industry Relations Manager for the Municipality of Wood Buffalo Dennis Vroom “It’s challenging to make specific comments right now because we don’t know specific details of the project. Once the application is formally made to the provincial government, we’ll take it and assess it for potential impacts and go from there.”

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Ft Mac

Downtown Chase in Fort MacMurray Leads to Numerous Charges

Fort MacMurray, downtown chase

A downtown chase through Fort MacMurray last weekend led to numerous charges against the female responsible. 39 year old Joyce Bone was arrested immediately following the police chase and she has been charged with 14 charges including criminal and traffic offenses. According to local police a report of dangerous driving was received, and this led officers to attempt to flag down a driver. When police observed the vehicle on Highway 63 early on Sunday morning the driver showed signs of impaired driving and refused to stop for the lights and siren. According to RCMP they did not engage initially but after receiving a second report about the dangerous driving the officers began the pursuit. During the chase the driver of the vehicle hit a number of police cars. Law enforcement does not believe that alcohol impairment was a factor in the case.

The downtown chase through Fort MacMurray led to a variety of different charges and traffic offenses against Bone. The driver was charged with 2 counts of operating a motor vehicle while being pursued by police. A total of 7 police cars were damaged, and two are believed to be inoperable as a result of the crash. Jones was also charged with 4 counts of failing to remain at the scene of an accident, 3 counts of assault with a weapon, and 1 count of dangerous operation of a vehicle. There were 4 traffic related charges as well which included driving without an operating license, driving without certification of registration, improper use of license plates, and driving an uninsured motor vehicle.

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Ft Mac Politics

Fort MacMurray NDP Candidates Confident in Campaign

NDP candidates, Fort MacMurray

The Fort MacMurray NDP candidates are confident in their latest campaign, and they believe that their party is strong enough to attract a strong group of followers who will give the PC and Wildrose parties a reason to worry. The area of Wood Buffalo generally leans to the right and has conservative views but this has been changing over the last few years. Many voters in Fort MacMurray have become jaded with politics as usual, and with the PCs in particuliar, and are hoping for a change in the next election. Many voters are also hesitant to support Wildrose policies and campaign promises, and these voters may choose the NDP candidates instead the next time around. Many residents in the Wood Buffalo region are unhappy with the current status quo and they want to see changes and hope to shake things up some.

According to the Fort MacMurray NDP candidates for the next election the current government is not doing enough for Fort MacMurray and the surrounding region. 31 year old teacher Ariana Mancini explained “We are going to hold the government accountable and provide an alternative to a PC-run province. There’s no distinction between the PCs and the Wildrose Party. We have this provincial government depicting our financial situation as nothing short of catastrophic, yet it is the same people and same political party that have been in charge for decades touting themselves as being financially responsible. Calling an election now provides an immediate recourse for people in Fort McMurray to show their displeasure with the budget and with the policies of the Wildrose by voting NDP.”

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Alberta Economic Ft Mac

Fort MacMurray Slated to Receive $10 Million Anti-Flood Grant From Province

Fort MacMurray, anti-flood grant

Fort MacMurray is slated to receive a $10 million anti-flood grant from the province, and this is much needed relief for area residents and businesses that may be affected by flooding from the Athabasca River and the thaw that occurs each spring. Two years ago Fort MacMurray experienced severe flooding in some areas, and the province announced the anti-flood grant in order to fund flood mitigation infrastructure. The grant funding was announced by Environment Minister Kyle Fawcett at MacDonald Island Park. Fawcett stated “Albertans are resilient. The disaster brought out the best in Albertans and we’ve learned from it and we’re putting in measures in place to better protect life and property from future flooding. I know this is a priority in Fort McMurray. These grants will allow work to start very soon.”

The anti-flood grant for Fort MacMurray will allow the region to provide flood protection and repair dikes, raised waterways, and floodwalls. In 2013 a state of emergency was declared in Fort MacMurray because of summer flooding, and the flood waters damaged Keyano College, a trailer park, and roughly 30 homes in the affected area. Fort MacMurray is an area with unique circumstances, and flood mitigation is a high priority in the area. Fawcett explained “The best thing you can do when it comes to flooding is prevent having infrastructure and people in the way of a floodway. But because of historical building patterns, it isn’t always possible.” Mayor Melissa Blake said “Some of the flood stories that you’ll hear from 1997 and the era before that will tell you it is incredibly important. Even if we don’t allow another building in the downtown, we still have all this historical development that is at peril if that happens to occur again.”